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"We have to forget about it, move on and think about Tuesday,"Pochettino said. "It is tough to prepare for a semifinal against a very good team like Ajax."

Pochettino, who made four changes from the midweek win over Brighton, declined to offer an update on the fitness of Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks, who are both struggling for fitness, and said: "They will be assessed."

With Harry Kane, Serge Aurier and Erik Lamela definitely out and Son Heung-min, who scored three goals against Manchester City in the two Champions League quarterfinal legs, suspended for the first leg, Pochettino must decide whether to switch Lucas Moura to a central striker role or give a start to Fernando Llorente.

Spurs' future remains tantalisingly poised between possible European glory and failure to even qualify for next season's tournament. Saturday's defeat means any two of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United could yet deny them a top-four place although their fate remains in their own hands.

"It is a fight, it is a race, with two games to play," Pochettino said. "We knew that before.

"I think we did not manage the ball properly. It was a difficult game but in the second half we conceded a lot of space for them to counter attack. But we need to look forward. We cannot stop to think about what we did not do today."

West Ham manager Manual Pellegrini said he was delighted with his side's first away win in the league for four months -- and singled out Marko Arnautovic for his part in Michail Antonio's winner.